Nutrition News
Mead Johnson 4Q profit jumps 56 percent
GLENVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Infant formula maker Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. said Thursday its profit climbed 56 percent in the fourth quarter as sales in Asia and Latin America continued to improve. But its forecast for 2011 was short of Wall Street estimates.
The maker of Enfamil said its net income increased to $99.6 million, or 48 cents per share, in the last three months of 2010 from $64 million, or 31 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding one-time costs related to its initial public offering, severance expenses, legal costs, and other items, the company said it earned 57 cents per share.
Its revenue rose 13 percent to $803.7 million from $714.4 million.
Analysts expected earnings of 56 cents per share on revenue of $806.3 million, according to estimates compiled by FactSet.
Mead Johnson said revenue in Latin America and Asia rose a combined 20 percent to $509.7 million. It said business was especially strong throughout Latin America and in China and Hong Kong. Sales in North America and Europe rose 2 percent to $294 million. It added that changes in foreign currency exchange rates boosted its sales by about 2 percent.
Mead Johnson was a wholly owned unit of drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. until it completed its IPO in February 2009. The company was fully separated from Bristol-Myers in December 2009.
Its annual profit grew 13 percent to $452.7 million, or $2.20 per share, from $399.6 million, or $1.99 per share, in 2009. Revenue increased 11 percent to $3.14 billion from $2.83 billion.
Mead Johnson said it expects an adjusted profit of $2.55 to $2.65 per share in 2011. Net sales are expected to grow 7 to 8 percent, which suggests a total of $3.36 billion to $3.39 billion. On average, analysts are forecasting a profit of $2.73 per share and $3.44 billion in revenue.
Shares of Mead Johnson Nutrition fell 28 cents to $59.74 in afternoon trading.
‘Nutrition Keys’ Coming to the Front of Food Packages
MORGANTOWN — The Grocery Manufacturers Association along with the Food Marketing Institute has started putting some labels on the front of their products called “Nutrition Keys”.
“With it being on the front of the package it’s hoped that its going to be noticeable and more informative to consumers.”
Certified dietician Cindy Fitch with the West Virginia University Extension Service says the more visible the information the better.
The labels list calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium and other nutrients.
“The more that we draw attention to the food that we eat and what’s in the food that we eat the better off we are,” says Fitch.
“I don’t think that people realize how much fat or sodium is in the foods that they buy,” she said.
Some critics say the nutrition keys are a way to get out of using labels that are already being developed by the Food and Drug Administration.
Fitch says she noticed the keys are lacking a very important feature; the serving size.
“We have a big misconception about serving sizes in this country. We tend to eat a pretty large serving sizes and not pay attention to what the nutrition facts label says the serving size is and that’s not on the front of the package and I think it should be,” says Fitch.
The government had the Institute of Medicine conduct a study about the labels to be reviewed by the FDA.
Michelle Obama in SC, sees Army fitness, food
FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama is visiting the Army’s largest training post to see how the military turns couch potato recruits into strong and nutrition-minded soldiers.
The first lady arrived Thursday to address the latest crop of new soldiers at their graduation ceremony at Fort Jackson in central South Carolina. She also was to hear about Army efforts to turn unfit teens into warriors.
Obama’s focus on making children healthier intersects with the nation’s need to field tough troops for the Army.
Fort Jackson trains more than 60,000 soldiers annually, including more than half of the Army’s female soldiers.
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling is briefing the first lady on how new soldiers are given exercises for core body strength and stamina. Mess halls now feature more dark greens, whole grains and fat-free milk.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama is visiting the Army’s largest training post to see how the military turns couch potato recruits into strong and nutrition-minded soldiers.
The first lady, who has taken on the cause of battling childhood obesity, was to speak Thursday to the latest crop of new soldiers at their graduation ceremony at Fort Jackson in central South Carolina.
Her battle against children’s lack of fitness intersects with the nation’s need to field fit troops for the Army.
Fort Jackson, which trains more than 60,000 soldiers annually and more than half the Army’s female soldiers, is one of the service’s five major posts for basic and advanced individual training.
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who recently overhauled the way the Army feeds its troops during training, also revamped the Army’s physical training regimen.
Hertling was slated to brief the first lady on how new soldiers are given exercises for core body strength and stamina. Bayonet drills have been dropped in favor of zigzag sprints, pugil stick workouts and stepped up calisthenics to increase power, strength and agility for soldiers facing rigorous campaigns in places like Afghanistan.
Mess halls now feature dark greens, whole grains and no-fat milk instead of calorie-laden fried foods, sugary desserts and sodas.
Red, yellow and green markings above each food item tell soldiers which foods are good for their energy level, which ones will keep them full, and which should be eaten in moderation.
Drill sergeants now call out recruits who don’t put enough fruits and veggies on their plates, and hold hour-long sessions on performance nutrition to help them understand the Army wants “soldier athletes.”
Army officials worry the nation’s security is at risk because fewer than one in four 17 to 24 year-olds are fully qualified to enter the military because of health, weight, or legal reasons.